A new era dawned in Japan on Wednesday as Naruhito officially became emperor at midnight following his father’s historic abdication from the Chrysanthemum Throne, the world’s oldest monarchy. The 59-year-old Naruhito will formally take possession of the sacred imperial regalia at a solemn ceremony later Wednesday but he became the 126th emperor at the stroke […]
Emperor
Japan’s emperor to abdicate for first time in 200 years
Japan’s Emperor Akihito will step down from the Chrysanthemum Throne on Tuesday, the first abdication in the world’s oldest imperial family for two centuries, ending 30 years of his popular reign and ushering in a new era. Celebrations are planned across the country as the famously hard-working Japanese enjoy an unprecedented 10-day holiday with a […]
study finds Major emperor penguin breeding ground barren since 2016
For the past three years, virtually nothing has hatched at Antarctica’s second biggest breeding grounds for emperor penguins and the start of this year is looking just as bleak, a new study found. Usually 15,000 to 24,000 breeding pairs of emperor penguins flock yearly to a breeding site at Halley Bay, considered a safe place […]
Emperor Akihito pays last homage at Shinto shrine before abdication
Japanese Emperor Akihito made his last pilgrimage to the country’s holiest Shinto shrine on Thursday, as people lined the route to catch a glimpse of the 85-year-old ahead of his abdication this month. Akihito and his wife Michiko’s last trip as emperor and empress to the Ise Jingu shrine in central Japan is part of […]